Portable rescue tool

ABSTRACT

A portable rescue tool that is powered by an electric motor. The electric motor has a drive output shaft that transfers rotational power to an angle rotary gearbox. The angle rotary gearbox has an output shaft that is oriented about 90 degrees from the rotational axis of the motor output shaft and is geared so as to increase the torque and reduce the speed of the rotational power. The angle rotary gearbox provides a reduced speed, high torque output at an output shaft that is delivered by a single chain drive to a main rotary actuator where two actuator arms are controlled to move away from each other and toward each other in the operation of the rescue tool. The portable rescue tool is designed to be of a low weight and enhanced cooling properties as present rescue tools.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 13/833,910, filed Mar.15, 2013, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device that can be used as a rescuetool by providing a spreading or cutting motion under high loads and,more particularly, to a portable rescue tool to carry out an emergencyrescue that is lighter and more efficient than prior rescue tools

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rescue tools know as “Jaws of Life” type devices are specialized toolsused by various rescue personnel such as police, firemen and paramedicsgenerally for the purpose of extricating accident victims from vehicleswhose exits have been rendered inoperative. These tools requirespreading and closing forces for opening or ripping apart inoperabledoors or for cutting through relatively thick metal layers. Pushing orpulling forces of 7,000 to 15,000 pounds at the tips are considered tobe normal for the proper operation of such tools.

A rescue tool of the present type is shown and described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,544,862 and 5,520,064 of Hickerson. In those patents, there canbe seen a rescue tool that is battery powered and which is capable ofhigh torque spreading and cutting motion of its jaws. While very usefuland an improvement in its time, the rescue tool of those patents can beimproved upon by reducing its weight to make the device easier to handleand by increasing its efficiency as to heat dissipation so as tolengthen the life of the motor.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a portable rescue toolthat can carry out the functions of the rescue tools described in theaforementioned U.S. Patents but which has increased efficiency, lowerweight, is less expensive to manufacture and has improved heatdissipation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided aportable rescue tool that is powered by an electric motor. The electricmotor has a drive output shaft that transfers rotational power to anangle rotary gearbox. The angle rotary gear box has an output shaft thatis oriented about 90 degrees from the rotational axis of the motoroutput shaft and is geared so as to increase the torque and reduce thespeed of the rotational power.

That high torque is then transmitted by a single belt drive to a mainrotary actuator to drive a pair of actuators having actuator arms thatcan be moved by the main rotary actuator so as to move away from andtoward each other. The single belt drive reduces the weight of theoverall portable rescue tool as well as provides a positive sprocketeddrive between the angle rotary gear box and the main rotary actuator.

In the exemplary embodiment, there is a brake assembly that directlycontacts and provides a braking force to the motor shaft where thebraking is the most effective. The braking assembly brakes the motorshaft when the power to the motor is terminated and allows the motorshaft to rotate freely when the motor is being energized.

The portable rescue tool is readily manipulated by the user by providinga rubber grip located just adjacent to the proximal end of the motorhousing and a handle bar that is angled slightly forwardly toward theworking end of the portable rescue tool so that the user can have afirm, balanced hold on the portable rescue tool and can manipulate theportable rescue tool to carry out the desired operation.

In the exemplary embodiment, the main rotary actuator is rotatablypositioned in the portable rescue tool between an upper and lower plateand there is a clutch mechanism that allows the user to loosen andtighten a threaded knob to allow the entire main rotary actuator torotate in the portable rescue tool or be prevented from rotation. Again,the components of the clutch as well as the assembly thereof aredesigned to reduce the weight of the portable rescue tool to make iteasier for the user to manipulate the portable rescue tool in carryingout its function.

Other features of the present portable rescue tool will become moreapparent in light of the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the portablerescue tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the power subassembly used with theportable rescue tool of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the portable rescue tool ofFIG. 1 taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable rescue tool of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing another ofthe components of the present portable rescue tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an exploded view of the portablerescue tool 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Ascan be seen, the portable rescue tool 10 basically comprises a motor 12,an angle rotary gearbox 14 and a main rotary actuator 16. As can beseen, the motor 12 is contained with a motor housing 18 and a housingend cap 20 covers the proximal end 22 of the motor housing 18 and can besecured thereto by screws.

An electrical cable 24 passes through the housing end cap 20 to supplyelection energy to the motor 12. The electrical cable 24 also passesthrough a rubber grip 25 that can be gripped by the user in order tocarry out the manipulation of the portable rescue tool 10.

The source of the electrical power can be a battery, not shown, and maybe a variety of voltages, however, in the exemplary embodiment, themotor 12 is a 12 volt D.C. motor to be compatible with automobile ortruck batteries.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the motor 12 has pins 26 (only one of whichis shown in FIG. 1) that enter into slots 28 in the motor housing 18 andcovers 30 can be secured to the motor housing 18 by means such as screws32 to cover the slots 28.

At the distal end 34 of the motor housing 18, the angle rotary gearbox14 has an output shaft 36 emerging therefrom and, as will be laterexplained, the rotational axis of the output shaft 36 is generally at aright angle with respect to the longitudinal rotational axis of themotor 12. A sprocket 38 is located at the free end of the output shaft36.

A handle 40 is affixed to the external circular motor housing 18. Thehandle 40 has an internal circular flange 42 that conforms to, and isaffixed to, the exterior circular configuration of the motor housing 18and has an external circular handle bar 44 that can be gripped by theuser. When assembled to the motor housing 18, the handle bar 44 istilted slightly forwardly for the convenient gripping and manipulationby the user.

As such, the user can readily manipulate the portable rescue tool 10 bygrasping the circular handle bar 44 with one hand and the rubber grip 25with the other hand and move the portable rescue tool 10 to the desiredorientation for its desired use.

As also can be seen in FIG. 1, the main rotary actuator 16 is affixed tothe motor housing 16 by means of an upper plate 46 and a lower plate 48with the main rotary actuator 16 sandwiched therebetween. At the lowerend of the main rotary actuator 16, there is an input shaft 50 that isrotatable to operate the main rotary actuator 16. A sprocket 52 isaffixed to the free end of the input shaft 50 and a drive coupling 54couples the output shaft 36 of the angle rotary gearbox 14 to the inputshaft 50 of the main rotary actuator 16.

In the exemplary embodiment the drive coupling 54 can be a single chainbelt 56 that connects between the sprocket 38 on the output shaft 36 ofthe angle rotary gearbox 14 and the larger sprocket 52 at the free endof the input shaft 50 of the main rotary actuator 16.

One of the sprocket 38 on the output shaft 36 or the larger sprocket 52on the input shaft 50 of the main rotary actuator 16 may include a slipmechanism that is commercially available and one supplier is MartinSprocket & Gear, Inc. of Arlington, Tex. The mechanism is a torquelimiting clutch where a driven member slips when a torque overload ispresent. Typically, the activation of the torque limiting clutch makes aclicking sound when operational and thus the user is alerted that thetorque overload is present and the mechanism is effectively limiting thetorque.

A gearbox retainer 58 is also included to strengthen the connectionbetween the lower plate 48 and the lower end of the angle rotary gearbox14 and a bottom cover 60 encloses and protects the drive coupling 54.

The main rotating actuator 16 includes two rotating actuators 62, 64that rotate with respect to each other either toward each other or awayfrom each other depending on the rotational direction of the motor 12.Each of the rotating actuators 62, 64 has two pairs of alignedconnecting holes, that is, upper holes 66 and lower holes 68. Only theupper and lower connecting holes 66, 68 on the rotating actuator 64 areshown in FIG. 1, however, similar holes are present on the otherrotating actuator 62.

The purpose of the aligned upper and lower connection holes 66, 68 areto connect actuator arms (not shown in FIG. 1), that are used to pry orcut material by selectively having the actuator arms close towards eachother or move away from each other in the normal operation of a portablerescue tool.

Atop of the main rotating actuator 16 is a clutch mechanism 70 thatcontrols the rotational movement of the main rotating actuator 16 withrespect to the upper and lower plates 46, 48, that is, the clutchmechanism 70 either allows the main rotating actuator 16 to rotatewithin the upper and lower plates 46, 48 or prevents that rotationalmovement.

The clutch mechanism 70 is comprised of a relatively few components andis therefore light so as to enhance the maneuverability of the portablerescue tool 10 and allows the main rotary actuator 16 to rotate withrespect to the fixed upper and lower plates 46, 48. As can be seen, theclutch mechanism, comprises a clutch plate 72 that is non-rotatablyaffixed to the main rotary actuator 16 by means, such as tabs 74 thatextend outwardly from the clutch plate 72 and which engage slots 76formed on the upper surface of the main rotary actuator 16.

A clutch housing 78 is positioned atop of the upper plate 46 and can befirmly affixed thereto by screws or the like such that the clutchhousing 78 does not move with respect to the upper plate 46. A clutchmaterial (not shown) is provided on the inner, downward surface of theclutch housing 78 and a screw 80 is centrally located and passes thoughthe clutch plate 72 and extends upwardly through the clutch housing 78where it is captured by a threaded knob 82. Intermediate the clutchplate 72 and the clutch housing 78 is a friction disc 84.

Accordingly, to operate the clutch mechanism 70, the threaded knob 82can be rotated by the user so as to tighten the clutch plate 72 againstthe clutch housing 78 such that the friction therebetween prevents theclutch plate 72 from rotating and it becomes fixed with respect to theclutch housing 78. Since the clutch plate 72 is keyed to the main rotaryactuator 16 through the tabs 74 and slots 76, the main rotary actuator16 is prevented from rotating with respect to the upper and lower plates46, 48.

If the user wants to move the rotational position of the main rotaryactuator 16, the threaded knob 82 is simply unscrewed from the screw 80,thereby releasing the clutch plate 72 and allowing the main rotaryactuator 16 be rotated to the desired orientation and the threaded knob82 again tightened to retain the main rotary actuator 16 in the desiredposition.

As such, the threaded knob 82 can be employed by the user to allow therotational movement of the main rotating actuator 16. Thus, the clutchmechanism 70 locks the position of the main rotating actuator 16 in apositive manner, requiring relatively few parts, thereby reducing theoverall weight and allowing the main rotating mechanism 16 to rotate inboth directions.

Turning then to FIG. 2, there is an exploded view illustrating the powersubassembly of the motor 12 and the angle rotary gearbox 14 within themotor housing 18. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the motor 12 is located inthe proximal end 22 of the motor housing 18 such that pins 26 enter intoand are located within the slots 28. A motor mount ring 92 is positioneddistal to the motor 12 within the motor housing 18 to mount the motor 12therein. As also shown, a motor shaft 94 extends outwardly from themotor 12 and connects the motor 12 to the angle rotary gear box 14. Themotor 12 and motor shaft 94 have a longitudinal axis of rotation.

The angle rotary gear box 14 reduces the motor speed at a ratio of about12:1 so that the characteristics of the output shaft 36 is one of lowspeed, high torque output. The motor shaft 94 can be seen to directlycouple to the angle rotary gearbox 14, thereby improving efficiency andreducing the weight of further coupling components. To also improveefficiency, it can also be seen that the angle rotary gearbox 14directly receives the rotational movement of the motor 12 and changesthe direction of the longitudinal axis of rotation of the motor shaft 94to the rotational axis of the output shaft 36 of the angle rotarygearbox 14. In the exemplary embodiment, that angle is about 90 degrees.

There is also an electrically powered brake 96 that surrounds the motorshaft 94 and is held therein by means of a mount 98 that mounts thebrake 96 as well as the angle rotary gearbox 14. The brake 96 iselectrically powered and is biased to its locked position preventing themotor shaft 94 from rotating, however, when power is applied to thebrake 96, and also the motor 12, the brake 96 is released and the motorshaft 94 is free to rotate.

Thus, the subassembly of the motor 12 and angle rotary gearbox 14 is acompact structure, readily assembled and removable from the othercomponents of the portable rescue tool 10 and includes a minimum ofcomponents so as to minimize the weight to facilitate the manipulationand use of the portable rescue tool 10 by a user. The motor 12 isdirectly coupled to the angle rotary gearbox 14 and the angle rotarygearbox 14 delivers the high torque rotational energy. The brake 96 islocated directly on the motor shaft 94 since less braking is needed atthe motor shaft 94 than at other locations.

Turning then to FIG. 3, there is a side cross sectional view of theportable rescue tool 10. In FIG. 3, there can be seen the overallportable rescue tool 10 and illustrating the position of the motor 12that has a longitudinal rotational axis that is generally horizontal asdepicted in FIG. 3 and the output shaft 36 of the angle rotary gearbox14 has an axis of rotation that is generally at a right angle withrespect to the axis of rotation of the motor 12.

A toggle switch 100 is provided in a location near the proximal end 22of the motor housing 18 so as to be readily accessible to the user. Byconventional wiring, the toggle switch 100 is connected between theelectrical cable 24 and the motor 12 to energize and de-energize themotor 12 as well as to change the direction of rotation.

Turning then to FIG. 4, taken along with FIGS. 1-3, there is shown aperspective view of the portable rescue tool 10 of the presentinvention. As such the angle rotary gearbox 14 is illustrated, as wellas the motor housing 18 that encloses the motor 12. The electrical cable24 extends outwardly from the proximal end 22 of the motor housing 18and includes the rubber grip 25 that is located just adjacent to theproximal end 22 of the motor housing 18 for gripping by the user. Theuser can also grip the handle bar 44 that, as can be seen, is angledaway from the proximal end 22 of the motor housing 22 and thus towardthe working end of the portable rescue tool 10.

Accordingly, both the rubber grip 25 and the handle bar 44 areconveniently located to enable the user to grip and manipulate theportable rescue tool 10.

As also can be seen in FIG. 4, the knob 82 is located atop of the mainrotating actuator 16 for retaining and releasing the main rotatingactuator 16 for rotational movement.

In FIG. 4, there can also be seen, actuator arms 102, 104 that extendoutwardly from the rotating actuators 62, 64, respectively, such thatthe distal ends 106, 108 are moved by means of the rotating actuators62, 64 to move the distal ends 106, 108 in opposite directions, that is,the distal ends 106, 108 can be forced together to carryout a cuttingaction or spread away from each other for creating a space betweencomponents of, for example, an automobile in gaining access thereto.

Finally, in FIG. 5, there is a perspective view, partially cut away, ofthe main rotating actuator 16. The main rotating actuator iscommercially available and can be the same as that shown and describedin the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,544,862 and 5,520,064 ofHickerson.

Basically, the main rotating actuator 16 is comprised of a housing 110and which is flanked by the rotating actuator 62, 64. The input shaft 50passes though the housing 110 and a main gear 112 is affixed thereto androtates along with the input shaft 50. Main gear 112 rotates a set offour follower gears 114 (only two of which are shown in FIG. 5). Thefollower gears 114 are affixed to secondary shafts 116 having planetarygears 118 (again, there are two sets of planetary gears 118).

The planetary gears 118 drive inner gears 120 internal of each of therotating actuators 62, 64 to move those rotating actuators 62, 64 eithertoward each other or away from each other in the operation of theportable rescue tool 10.

While the present invention has been set forth in terms of a specificembodiment or embodiments, it will be understood that the presentportable rescue tool herein disclosed may be modified or altered bythose skilled in the art to other configurations. Accordingly, theinvention is to be broadly construed and limited only by the scope andspirit of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power subassembly for use with a portable tool,the subassembly comprising: an electric motor having a motor outputshaft with a first axis of rotation; an angle rotary gearbox operablycoupled to the electric motor and adapted to receive rotary motion fromthe electric motor and provide a low speed, high torque rotary outputwith a gearbox output shaft having a second axis of rotation orientedabout 90 degrees from the first axis of rotation; and an electricallypowered brake selectively movable between a locked position, whereinrotation of the motor output shaft is restricted, and an unlockedposition, wherein the motor output shaft is rotatable.
 2. The powersubassembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically powered brake actsdirectly on the motor output shaft.
 3. The power subassembly of claim 2,wherein when the electrically powered brake is in the unlocked position,the motor output shaft rotates when the electric motor is electricallyenergized.
 4. The power subassembly of claim 3, wherein the electricmotor and electrically powered brake are disposed within a motorhousing.
 5. The power subassembly of claim 4, wherein the electric motorhas a pin extending outwardly therefrom and the pin engages a slotformed in the motor housing.
 6. The power subassembly of claim 3,wherein the electrically powered brake is biased to be disposed in itslocked position.
 7. The power subassembly of claim 1, wherein thegearbox output shaft has a device adapted to limit an amount of torquetransmitted by the gearbox output shaft.
 8. A clutch mechanism forcontrolling rotation of a drive mechanism that is rotatably disposedbetween upper and lower plates, the clutch mechanism comprising: aclutch plate adapted to rotate with the drive mechanism and including atab adapted to engage the drive mechanism; a clutch housing coupled tothe upper plate and adapted to cover the clutch plate, and the clutchhousing including a friction material that faces the clutch plate; ashaft passing through the clutch plate and the clutch housing andextending outwardly from the clutch housing; and a knob coupled to theshaft, and wherein actuation of the knob is adapted to move the clutchplate with respect to the clutch housing and cause the clutch plate tomove into contact and out of contact with the friction material tocontrol rotation of the drive mechanism.
 9. The clutch mechanism ofclaim 8, wherein the clutch plate has a second friction material facingthe friction material of the clutch housing.
 10. The clutch mechanism ofclaim 8, wherein the shaft includes threads, and the knob is compatiblythreaded.